Use what you have compostables bin

Redondo Beach residents received new green (compostables) bins last week!

Note that we are allowed, for the first time, to put kitchen waste in with the yard waste.

Bad Dad was not enthused, saying that getting another bin for the kitchen would be a pain. I beg to differ. I went to the garage and took out this bin and matching lid.

The city does not allow plastic bags in the green bin. So I lined it with a brown paper bag.

The city passes out free bins, but only during my work hours.

Free Residential Food Scrap Container
To help you set-up a collection system for the new Curbside Compost Collection Program, the City of Redondo Beach Public Works Department is distributing kitchen counter-top collection containers at no charge. Simply come by the Corporate Yard at 531 N. Gertruda Ave., Redondo Beach between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday to pick up your container.

Should those hours be inconvenient for you, too, try a local restaurant. My kitchen compostables bin came from Rice Things, a favorite neighborhood restaurant for Japanese comfort food. They buy soy sauce in these containers. If you are a regular there, ask them to save you a bin.

(A neighbor says she buys cat litter from Costco in similar lidded bins.)

When our old trash can broke, I bought a new one and repurposed the cracked shell of the old one to collect our commingled recyclables. I downloaded a recycling symbol graphic from wikipedia, printed it out and taped it to the old bin.

I once read a discussion thread on Apartment Therapy about which is "the best" compost bin. One made of sustainably harvested bamboo? Or recycled resin?

The greenest thing is to use what you already have.

* This is cross-posted on the Adams School CSA blog. Pennamite and I blog about all things CSA-related there. Come visit us there and join our CSA program! The first strawberries of the season have appeared in our boxes. I've already extolled the virtues of local winter strawberries. True winter strawberries are rarely found at supermarkets. Sign up now so you don't miss out.